Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

Most of these were kind of expected to be announced though. A splash to me would have been maybe Jurassic Park or Back to the Future Trilogy, something a little unexpected. If Paramount does indeed announce the Godfather Trilogy for Blu, that would make one hell of a splash.

Though these titles would have been awesome to hear about, it really comes down to how many people have blu-ray and how much money they can make. Right now, the market isn't great for making lots of money on these titles yet. I would think 2009 at earliest for JP.
Also, I was thinking that Paramount are the people who want to really make a splash, though. They've pissed everyone off in the Hi-def community. Universal only pissed off half.

[kenga236]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

What were you expecting?

They just announced about a dozen titles, along with timeframes and/or dates, and the fact they're going to have 50 discs before the end of the year

What would have constituted "splash"?

I agree WickyWoo. Since the movie releases are slated to start beginning of 3rd Qtr.(July), that is a release schedule of an average between 7 and 8 movies a month. That constitutes a pretty good splash to me.

[savage1984]

Thanks Bill!

They announced Heroes 1 and 2! Talk about Splash! I've been waiting to hear those words since season 1 came out on hd-dvd only last year.... August 26th will be a good day for me, but not my wallet... hehehehe. Yay!

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

Bill, am I the only one who thinks that Universal didn't quite make the splash you were alluding to?

Well, look... there's no way EVERYONE was going to be thrilled with the initial announcement. But considering where Universal was just three months ago, this is a pretty big deal. They trumpeted all their big new theatrical releases, and Heroes: Seasons 1 AND 2 was a bit of a surprise.

There's definitely more titles coming that haven't yet been announced. And I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one Spielberg title street before the end of the year.

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

What were you expecting?

They just announced about a dozen titles, along with timeframes and/or dates, and the fact they're going to have 50 discs before the end of the year

What would have constituted "splash"?

Nothing is good enough for some people. We've been complaining that we've heard nothing from Universal for weeks and now that we have, more complaining.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

Most of these were kind of expected to be announced though. A splash to me would have been maybe Jurassic Park or Back to the Future Trilogy, something a little unexpected. If Paramount does indeed announce the Godfather Trilogy for Blu, that would make one hell of a splash.

Titles like the ones to which you refer require time and effort. Lot of thumbs in the pie, and everyone wants to make them special. There's no way stuff like that was going to be in the initial announce from Uni.

Paramount IS working on some MAJOR titles and since they've done Blu-ray before, they're in a better position to announce them sooner.

And again, keep in mind where both of these studios were just three months ago.

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

Most of these were kind of expected to be announced though. A splash to me would have been maybe Jurassic Park or Back to the Future Trilogy, something a little unexpected. If Paramount does indeed announce the Godfather Trilogy for Blu, that would make one hell of a splash.

You actually thought Universal would include Back to the Future or Jurassic Park as part of their BD debut? Seriously?

Those titles wouldn't have been unexpected. They would have been shocking to hear about so early. Jurassic Park 4 isn't due out until at least another year. Why would Universal release the first one now?

[huntifosi]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

Nothing is good enough for some people. We've been complaining that we've heard nothing from Universal for weeks and now that we have, more complaining.

You are SO right. Those same people would piss and moan getting hung with a new rope.....

[broganreynik]

Sweet Jesus, forgive me for expecting more than the regular day and date releases and given recent releases. Outside of Heroes, can anyone say they didn't see a single one of these coming. I guess since every time I express any concern people just flame me and say I can't be satisfied I should just keep my opinions to myself. I thought Blu fans expected more. Boy was I wrong.

P.S. Mr. Cinema, if you'll notice from my post history, not once have I complained about not hearing anything from Universal, I've been patiently awaiting their announcement. And I didn't mean those particular titles per se, I just meant something a little more unexpected than day and date and recent releases. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to have American Gangster, 40 Year Old Virgin and frankly just Universal on Blu, I just didn't think they made a very big splash, since everyone was kind of expecting this anyway.

Bill, sorry for cluttering up your thread with the replies to my post, maybe I should've just PM'd it to you. My opinion being public I guess isn't too appreciated 'round these parts.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

Sweet Jesus, forgive me for expecting more than the regular day and date releases and given recent releases. Outside of Heroes, can anyone say they didn't see a single one of these coming. I guess since every time I express any concern people just flame me and say I can't be satisfied I should just keep my opinions to myself. I thought Blu fans expected more. Boy was I wrong.

P.S. Mr. Cinema, if you'll notice from my post history, not once have I complained about not hearing anything from Universal, I've been patiently awaiting their announcement. And I didn't mean those particular titles per se, I just meant something a little more unexpected than day and date and recent releases. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to have American Gangster, 40 Year Old Virgin and frankly just Universal on Blu, I just didn't think they made a very big splash, since everyone was kind of expecting this anyway.

No worries. Just be patient. This is only their initial announce, after all. More titles are coming. And from the studio's perspective, they DID make a big splash. Retailers would probably agree. Heroes is one of their biggest TV properties, and retailers go ga-ga over new theatrical titles, because that's where the money's at.

[ezcobar411]

Bill do you think that Paramount is under more pressure to make a bigger splash than Universal due to their previous experience with blu-ray? Also, do you expect them to attempt to make a bigger splash because unlike Universal, some previous blu owners will expect something to make up for Paramount's defection?

P.S. Do you see Paramount and Universal battling it out between each other in order to ensure that they aren't the bottom dwellers as far as market share goes?

Thanks for your time.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

A splash to me would have been maybe Jurassic Park or Back to the Future Trilogy, something a little unexpected.

See, that's why people respond. You're saying a "little" unexpected would be for them release their crown jewels. Anything else isn't a splash?

Gary

[fronn]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

What were you expecting?

They just announced about a dozen titles, along with timeframes and/or dates, and the fact they're going to have 50 discs before the end of the year

What would have constituted "splash"?

The claims of "XX titles by end of the year" are hard to take seriously from any studio, as they are almost never close to reality (or they are worldwide figures, which are boring). We have learned that countless times that these numbers mean little (on both sides of the fence, Red and Blu).

To be honest, I was hoping for a few more tentative dates. 3 dated movies (The Mummy trilogy? Really?) isn't really the splash I was thinking would happen.

I'm not necessarily disappointed (It's nice to see any news!), but I wouldn't say they got me excited (American gangster will be nice, if the EE is in HD). 3 months wait for 3 mediocre movies and a claim that 50 more movies by end of the year (with the way those claims are thrown around, I can't get excited over that). It's nice to see mentions of future day n date releases (Heroes S2, new Hulk, Hellboy 2, etc.), but at this point those are something we should expect, not be surprised about. I hope Paramount has a bigger "splash".

I'm sure I'll be pleased in about 3-4 months when titles are being released and more dates come, but that was kind of underwhelming. I guess all the talk about making big splashes set my expectations a little higher than a promise that could easily go unfulfilled (50 movies by year end) and a date for a handful of catalog HD DVDs and a hint at a few more. I was kind of expecting some news on catalog releases that we hadn't heard of (that aren't out on HD DVD; Not necessarily Jurassic Park, Jaws or BTTF) along with the HD DVD catalogs and new theatrical day n dates.

Frankly, HD DVD catalog titles are not what excites me, at least not in the sense that I feel like the company is giving me something I shouldn't have had already.

But, on a more positive note. Welcome to the party, Universal! I look forward to many awesome titles.

[Jack Torrance]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

And again, keep in mind where both of these studios were just three months ago.

Bill:

I don't think it was even three months ago! Some people are understandably anxious about title announcements, but don't fully appreciate just how fast things are actually moving (all things considered).

[broganreynik]

Originally Posted by fronn

The claims of "XX titles by end of the year" are hard to take seriously from any studio, as they are almost never close to reality (or they are worldwide figures, which are boring). We have learned that countless times that these numbers mean little (on both sides of the fence, Red and Blu).

To be honest, I was hoping for a few more tentative dates. 3 dated movies (The Mummy trilogy? Really?) isn't really the splash I was thinking would happen.

I'm not necessarily disappointed (It's nice to see any news!), but I wouldn't say they got me excited (American gangster will be nice, if the EE is in HD). 3 months wait for 3 mediocre movies and a claim that 50 more movies by end of the year (with the way those claims are thrown around, I can't get excited over that). It's nice to see mentions of future day n date releases (Heroes S2, new Hulk, Hellboy 2, etc.), but at this point those are something we should expect, not be surprised about. I hope Paramount has a bigger "splash".

I'm sure I'll be pleased in about 3-4 months when titles are being released and more dates come, but that was kind of underwhelming. I guess all the talk about making big splashes set my expectations a little higher than a promise that could easily go unfulfilled (50 movies by year end) and a date for a handful of catalog HD DVDs and a hint at a few more. I was kind of expecting some news on catalog releases that we hadn't heard of (that aren't out on HD DVD; Not necessarily Jurassic Park, Jaws or BTTF) along with the HD DVD catalogs and new theatrical day n dates.

Frankly, HD DVD catalog titles are not what excites me, at least not in the sense that I feel like the company is giving me something I shouldn't have had already.

But, on a more positive note. Welcome to the party, Universal! I look forward to many awesome titles.

Exactly.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

Exactly.

I've said previously that the studios wanted to make a splash. Unfortunately, as is often the case here on the Net, it got blown out of proportion. And nothing makes 100% of people happy. However, from the perspective of the Universal, they did make a splash. So it's all relative. I could tell you all to be patient again, but you know...

[Chaka]

BTW, have they said 50 titles? I thought they mentioned 40. Not to split hairs but that is 8 titles per month which is pretty good for a company that had to jump in line to get pressing and mastering done for the first time at short notice.

[WickyWoo]

And unlike with HD DVD, it's actually possible to do those 50 titles, since there ARE HD DVDs that are quite nice, like Pitch Black that would do just fine being repurposed for Blu with the additiona of TrueHD or PCM. (Riddick on the other hand is a little iffier). I seriously doubt they'll re-encode 40 year old Virgin or Knocked up for example.

[Esox50]

Sorry, but anyone expecting Jurassic Park as part of this initial announcment is out of his/her mind.

Also, while Universal will do their best, I doubt we'll see 40 Blu's by the end of the year. I'm ok with that. Has any studio EVER hit their announced targets in terms of numbers of releases?

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

I'm looking into it, but you can reasonably expect the previous HD-DVD releases certainly, as they're re-worked for Blu-ray. I've passed on people's concerns about wanting TrueHD audio on all titles to the studio.

Thanks Bill! This is my #1 concern with Universal and Paramount as it relates to their Blu releases.

As I posted a few pages ago, I hope that Universal will go DTS-MA. The thought of that on the eventual Jurassic Park release (i.e. to have the original and first DTS presentation presented losslessly) is simply awesome.